Linking Verbs — SteemCN

Learn to recognize linking verbs in English sentences.

Michael Strumpf, founder of the American National Grammar Hot Line once wrote that verbs are the life of language. Indeed, these precious words expressing action, existence, or condition are a necessary component of sentences. We can form a sentence without a noun, but we can't form a sentence without a verb.

In English, we can divide verbs into two general categories: linking verbs and action verbs. You may have already guessed that action verbs express action; the verbs dance, work, run are good representatives of this category. What about linking verbs? Linking verbs express states of being rather than action. If you have trouble identifying there verbs in sentences, please read on.

Linking Verbs (LV) Are Being Verbs

The most common linking verb is the verb be. This verb expresses a state of being rather than action. That's why linking verbs are also called being verbs.

Johnny is (LV) a good singer.

If you look at the above sentence carefully, you can see that the linking verb is links the subject Johnny with its complement a good singer. A good singer is a complement because it gives us more information about this person called Johnny.

Johnny (S) = a good singer (SC)

In grammarspeak, we call this complement a subject complement (SC). As you can see, linking verbs are just like equal signs (=) inserted between the subject and the subject complement. One more example:

Lulu will be (LV) angry when she finds out that someone has stolen her Cadillac. (Lulu = angry)

The sentence describes Lulu's state of being when she finds out that her car has been stolen. The action took place when her car got stolen.

Now let's take a look at some other linking verbs. The verbs seem, appear, remain, and stay also express a state of being. For example:

A jail sentence for drinking beer in public places appears harsh. (A jail sentence = harsh)
He remained silent. (He = silent)

These verbs are similar to the verb be because they simply add shades of meaning to the basic concept. We could easily use forms of the verb be in place of the verbs appears and remains: the meaning of the sentence would stay the same. For example:

A jail sentence for drinking beer in public places is harsh. / He was silent.

Sensory Verbs in the Role of Linking Verbs

Sensory verbs express information we receive through the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and so forth. The verbs see, hear, look, taste, smell, and feel are good representatives of sensory verbs. When you're dealing with this category of verbs, remember that sensory verbs may or may not act as linking verbs in sentences. When a sensory verb links the subject with its complement (SC)—which always tells you more about the subject—then the sensory verb is in the role of a linking verb:

The lasagna smells delicious! (The lasagna = delicious)
My eyes feel sore. (My eyes = sore)

As we can see, the sensory verbs smells and feels tell us more about the subject. They act as an equal sign (=) in the sentence.

Remember: Sensory verbs are not in the role of linking verbs when they are followed by an object. For example:

With her delicate fingers, Sabine touched Sean's chin (O).

Sean's chin is not a subject complement; it's a direct object. Sean's chin doesn't tell you more about Sabine, does it? You can't say that Sabine = Sean's chin. That would be ridiculous. Sabine went into action and touched Sean's chin. The sensory verb touch therefore functions as an action verb (AV). Remember: If sensory verbs don't act as an equal sign in the sentence, they aren't linking verbs. One more example:

The wine tastes (LV) great. / We taste (AV) the red wine.

Linking Verbs and Subject Complements

Linking verbs always connect the subject and the subject complement. Subject complements can be realized by adjectives, nouns, pronouns, gerunds, participles, and so forth.

I am nice (adjective). / I am a dancer (noun). / The winner of the contest is you (pronoun). / The speech sounds convincing (present participle). / His hobby is collecting stamps (gerund).

Let me finish the article with a little tip. If you are unsure whether the verb you're dealing with is an action verb or a linking one, replace the verb with the appropriate form of the verb be. If the form of the verb be fits nicely into the sentence, then you're definitely dealing with a linking verb.

Reference:

Geraldine Woods, English Grammar For Dummies, 2nd Edition, Wiley Publishing, Inc.